Inflatable hat



Aug. 20, 1957 Filed Sept. 9, 1954 s. MILONE 2,803,015

INFLATABLE HAT 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. SAMUEL. MILONE Aug. 20, 1957s. MILONE 2,303,015

INFLATABLE HAT I Filed Sept. 9, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SAMUEL MILONE W MS. MILQNE INFLATABLE HAT Aug. 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 9,1954 INVENTOR. SAMUEL MILO NE A TTORNEYS United States Patent "OINFLATABLE HAT Samuel Milone, Camden, N. J.

Application September 9, 1954, Serial No. 454,900

3 Claims. (Cl. 2--177) This invention relates to a structure having anoninflatable crown and an inflatable brim. While the principles of theinvention are embodied in a hat, as hereinafter described, they may alsobe embodied in such articles as sun shades, umbrellas, distresssignalling devices, and so forth.

An-important object of the invention is to provide an inflatable hatwhich is light in weight and suficiently compact when folded in thedeflated form to permit it to be carried in a pocket or purse. Afurtherobject of the invention is to provide a'hat having an inflatable brimincluding such channels and air passages as to permit the inflationthereof by mouth in a matter of seconds. t

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatablehat whichcanbe inexpensively manufactured vby simple sealing; operations from a widevariety of relatively. thin, light-weight, colored or uncolored plasticsheets. e p a These and other objects will become more apparent as thefollowing description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hat in the inflated K form asworn; V .1

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hat in the deflated and foldedform;

Figure 3 is a plan view of two plastic sheets sealed in the first stageof making the hat;

i Figure 4 is'a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating theplastic-sheets in the final stage of making the hat;

Figure 5 is a plan view ofone form of hat made in accordance with theinvention;

Figure '6 is a view similar to'Figure 5 and illustrating a second formof hat; 1

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating a third form ofhat;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating a fourth form ofhat;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure5;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure6;

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11--11 ofFigure 7;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 12-12 ofFigure 8;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the brim andillustrating the mouthpiece and valve;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14--14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 and illustrating the closedposition of the valve;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the brim andillustrating the attachment of the string thereto; and

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Specific reference will now be made to the drawings ice wherein similarreference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

The present hat, which may be of any desired shape and dimensions,comprises a non-inflatable crown 10, an inflatable brim 12, a mouthpiece14 carried by the brim, a valve 16 to close off the mouthpiece and astring 18 to attach the hat to the head. His preferred that the entirehat be fabricated of two sheets or plies of a light weight plastic suchas the vinylites.

Referring first to the form of hat illustrated in Figures 5 and 9, thesame comprises two relatively thin non-porous sheets 20 and 22appropriately sealed to form a two-ply crown 10 to which is attached theinflatable brim. In the sealing process the sheets forming the brimportion are seamed at predetermined locations. One seam 24 encircles thecrown and closes off the latter from the brim. Another seam 26 appearsadjacent the outer margin of the brim. The intermediate seams 28 areconcentrically arranged and extend from the crown to the margin of thebrim. The seams 28, in efieet, ereateconcentric inflatable channels 30.

The channels 30 are intercepted by a radial air passage 32 whichcommunicates with the mouthpiece 14. By making the radial air passage 32directly communicative with the mouthpiece, the channels 30 of the brimare each rapidly inflated. Because the" channels 30 are coextensive withthe entire brim, a relatively rigid brim is provided which resistsflexing in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the hat.

To effect a closure of the mouthpiece after inflation of the brim, asimple and effective valve means is employed. This consists of areinforced slot 16 in the brim mouthpiece and brim is relatively thinand is closed off as at 36.

The attaching string 18 is attached at its ends to the brim. An aperture38 is provided in the brim at one of the concentric seams 28 and on bothsides of the crown. The ends of the string 18 are extending through theapertures and knotted thereat as at 40,-a washer 42 being interposed,between the knot and the brim. A slide snuifer 44 may be used toadjustably close the string 18 about the chin of the wearer.

The form of hat shown in Figures 6 and 10 is identical with that ofFigures 5 and 9 except that the concentric channels 46 are interceptedby a plurality, preferably .four, radial air passages 48 whichcommunicate with the channels, one of which radial air passagescommunicates directly with the mouthpiece 14. This construction inflatesmore rapidly than the structure shown in Figures 5 and 9.

The form of hat shown in Figures 7 and 11 is somewhat like those shownin Figures 5, 9 and 6, 10, except that the air passages intercepting thechannels are radially discontinuous or staggered. Thus, the plasticsheets 20 and 22 are sealed in the brim portion to provide seams 50 thatare concentrically spaced about the crown but are discontinued atpredetermined circumferential spaces as at 52 to provide generallyradially extending but radially discontinued or staggered air passageswhich communicate with the channels, one of which passages communicatesdirectly with the mouthpiece. Because the air passages 52 are not openfully from the margin to the crown along a radius, the inflated brim ismore resistant to flexing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of thehat than is the case with the forms of the hats shown in Figures 5, 9and 6, but the air passages permit very rapid inflation of the channels.

The form of the hat shown in Figures 8 and 12 is like those previouslydescribed except that the plastic sheets and 22 are sealed in the brimportion to form a continuous spiral seam 54. This seam creates a spiralchannel 56 which is coextensive with the brim and which communicateswith the mouthpiece. Because of the absence of radial air passages, thisstructure does not inflate as rapidly. It also requires specializedsealing apparatus thereby increasing the unit cost thereof.

In the manufacture of the hats shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, a pair ofrelatively thin plastic sheets 20 and 22 are sealed together. Beforesealing, the sheets are cut to the desired size and shape, are laid oneon the other, and a 90 piece is cut out therefrom as shown in Figure 3.The sheets are sealed to provide the concentric seams 28, the inner andouter seams 24 and 26 and the various air passages intercepting theconcentric seams depending upon the form of invention being made. Seams58 and 60 are also produced at the cut out portion. This sealingoperation is effected by lowering a die on the superimposed sheets for apredetermined short period of time, the die being provided with ribscorresponding to the seams. The die may either be heated or the sealingoperation may be effected electronically. The seams 58 and 60 are joinedand seamed as a unit at 62, Figure 4, to provide the final hat with aconical crown 10 which may have a pointed or rounded crown.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it is understood that a skilled artisan may make minorvariations without departing from the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inflatable hat construction fabricated of two flat coextensivesheets of material in the shape of three quarters of a circle, a radialseam uniting the opposed radial edges of the sheets to give the same acircular configuration and extending continuously from the center of thecircle to the periphery, a continuous marginal seam joining theperipheral edges of said sheets, a continuous inner seam of circularshape spaced inwardly from said marginal seam and joining the sheetstogether therealong to define a central crown portion and a surroundingouter brim portion of the hat, the sheets when connected by the radialseam providing an integral crown portion of generally conical shape, aplurality of substantially concentric intermediate seams disposedbetween said marginal and inner seams and joining together said twosheets of material along lines extending concentrically in said brimportion of the hat to define therein a plurality of concentric airpassages, each of said intermediate seams being interrupted atpredetermined locations circumferentially of the brim portion to provideopenings affording fluid communication between adjacent passages, andmeans defining an inlet opening extending through said marginal seam tothe outermost air passage in said brim portion to supply air to all ofsaid concentric passages in the brim portion whereby the latter may beinflated and disposed in a generally flat plane.

2. A hat in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inter ruptions providingsaid openings in each intermediate seam areoffset circumferentially withrespect to the interruptions in the next adjacent seam.

3. An inflatable hat construction fabricated of two flat coextensivesheets of material in the shape of threequarters of a circle, a radialseam uniting the opposed radial edges of the sheets to give the same acircular configuration and extending continuously from the center of thecircle to the periphery, a continuous marginal seam joining theperipheral edges of said sheets, a continuous inner seam of circularshape spaced inwardly from said marginal seam and joining the sheetstogether therealong to define a central crown portion and a surroundingouter brim portion of the hat, said sheets when connected by the radialseam providing an integral crown portion of generally conical shape, aplurality of substantially concentric intermediate seams disposedbetween said marginal and inner seams concentrically thereof anddefining in the brim portion of the hat a plurality of concentric airpassages, each of said intermediate seams being constituted by a seriesof discontinuous adhesions between the two sheets of material, the gapsin said intermediate seams between said adhesions providing openingsinterconnecting said adjacent concentric passages to afford fluidcommunication between said adjacent concentric passages, and meansdefining an inlet opening in fluid communication with one of saidconcentric passages in said brim portion to supply air to all of saidconcentric passages in the brim portion whereby the latter may beinflated and disposed in a generally flat plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS882,686 Ireland et a1. Mar. 24. 1908 2,418,069 Delano Mar. 25, 19472,673,349 Key Mar. 30, 1954 2,684,483 Kwake July 27, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 270,418 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1950 153,025 Australia Aug. 31,1953

